coping stone

• Камень, образующий верхнюю часть стены или сооружения, часто используется в переносном смысле для обозначения последнего или завершающего штриха чего-либо.

A stone that forms the top of a wall or structure, often used figuratively to refer to the final or finishing touch of something.

1. Architectural elementC1formal

   A stone placed on top of a wall, pillar, or building to protect it from weather and to finish it.

   Архитектурный элемент

   • The mason carefully placed the coping stone on the garden wall.
   • The old castle's coping stones were worn by centuries of rain.
   • They replaced the damaged coping stone to prevent water damage.

2. Figurative meaningC2formal

   The final or crowning achievement; the culmination of a process or effort.

   Венец

   • Winning the championship was the coping stone of his career.
   • The new treaty served as a coping stone for years of negotiations.
   • Her masterpiece was the coping stone of a lifetime of artistic work.